Refractory pouring tube

ABSTRACT

A pouring tube for enclosing a stream of liquid metal as it passes from a tundish to a receiver such as a continuous-casting mold. The tube is formed of a refractory and is suspended from a holder with a clip. The invention is in the addition of a metal band encircling the refractory in the region engaged by the clip. The band distributes the load and prevents breakage of the refractory.

[451 Nov. 5, 1974 REFRACTORY POURING TUBE 3 760,992 9/1973 Bieri 222/5123,764,042 10/1973 Shapland et al. 222/1 [76] Inventor: James T.Shapland, Wilkins Township, Allegheny County, Pa.

. Primary ExaminerGera1d A. Dost Oct. 26, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 409,835

[22] Filed:

Attorney, Agent, or FirmWa1ter P. Wood [57] ABSTRACT A pouring tube forenclosing a stream of liquid metal as it passes from a tundish to areceiver such as a continuous-casting mold. The tube is formed of arefrac- UHF tory and is suspended from a holder with a clip. The

'[56] References Cited invention is in the addition of a metal bandencircling UNITED STATES PATENTS the refractory in the region engaged bythe clip. The band distributes the load and prevents breakage of the S mu g m g m a r. D 4 m M C 5 v r O t C a an e r 67 M66 5 mm B12 6 .2 2

3,386,723 6/1968 3,502,134 3/1970 Oreloski................ 3,735,9065/1973 Zettlemoyer........................

PATENTEDNUV 5 I974 F/GI FIG FIG. 2

l REFRACTORY POURING TUBE This invention relates to an improved pouringtube for teeming liquid metal from a bottom-pour vessel into a receiver.

"Although my invention is not thus limited, the pouring tube isparticularly useful for teeming steel from a tundish, which is equippedwith a slidable gate mechanism for controlling discharge therefrom, intoa continuouscasting mold. In continuously casting some grades of steel,it is desirable to enclose the pouring stream as it passes from thetundish to the mold and introduce the steel to the mold beneath thesurface of the pool already in the mold. Conventionally this isaccomplished by attaching a refractory pouring tube to the teemingvessel beneath the outlet in its bottom wall and submerging the lowerend of the tube in the pool. In some instances the tube is open at itslower end, but in others the tube has outlets in the side wall and thelower end is closed. The latter type should be oriented with respect tothe mold so that the streams discharging from the outlets are properlyaimed. Reference can be made to my US. Pat. No. 3,501,068 and to Earl P.Snapland, Jr. Application Ser. No. 337,252 filed Mar. 1, I973, both ofcommon ownership for showings of pouring tubes.

The Earl P. Shapland, Jr. application shows a pouring tube which isattached at its upper end to a holder. The holder comprises a refractoryblock and a metal frame covering the side and end edges and bottom ofthe block. The underside of the frame has a depending skirt whichreceives the upper end of the tube. The skirt has four symmetricallyarranged slots. A U-shaped wire clip is inserted through the slots andlies within grooves in the outside face of the refractory to attach thetube to the holder. The grooves may extend through relatively smallarcs, whereby the tube is positioned automatically always in the sameorientation with respect to the holder when the tube and holder areassembled.

The present invention relates to the use of a metal band on a pouringtube for the purpose of distributing the load and preventing the tubefrom breaking. Preferably the tube is supported by a metal clip as shownin the Earl P. Shapland, Jr. application. I point out that saidapplication illustrates a band in accordance with the present invention,but of course does not claim it.

' to a holder with a clip, wherein the region of the refractory engagedby the clip carries a metal band for distributing the load andprotecting the refractory against breakage.

A further object is to provide an improved pouring tube in which slotsin a metal band encircling the re fractory of the tube receive thesupporting clip, whereby breakage of the refractory is largelyprevented, and there need be no reliance on grooves in the refractory tosupport and orient the tube.

In the drawing:

FIG. I is a vertical sectional view of a pouring tube constructed inaccordance with my invention;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal section on line "-11 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view similar to FIG. I. but showing amodification; and

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section on line IV-IV of FIG. 3.

FIGS. 1 and Zshow a cylindrical refractory pouring tube 10, illustratedas of the type which has-diametrically opposed downwardly slantedoutlets 12 in its side wall. The lower end of the tube is closed asindicated at 13. The tube is suspended from a holder which includes arefractory block 14, a metal frame 15, and a skirt 16 depending from theframe. The tube is held on the frame with a U-shaped wire clip 17 whichextends through slots in the skirt and is received in grooves 18 in theoutside face of the refractory. Alternatively the clip may be made astwo separate pieces which extend through the slots and grooves atopposite sides. The grooves 18 extend circumferentially of therefractory but preferably only through relatively small arcs, wherebythe tube automatically is oriented with the outlets l2 properly aimedwhen attached to the block with the clip 17. In use the lower end of thetube is submerged in a pool of liquid metal in a receiver, such as acontinuous-casting mold. The structure thus far described is theinvention of Earl P. Shapland, Jr. and is claimed in his aforementionedapplication.

In accordance with my invention, I place a metal band 19 around the tube10 in region of the grooves 18, that is, the region engaged by the clip.The band can be split and welded to fix it in place, as indicated at 20.The refractory may have a second circumferential groove in its outsideface below grooves 18, and the band may have a crimp received in thesecond groove to hold it against relative axial movement, expeciallywhen it expands as it is heated by proximity to liquid metal. The bandhas diametrically opposed slots mating with grooves 18 and receivingclip 17. The presence of the band overcomes the need to rely on grooves18 in the refractory being properly located to orient the outlets 12,since the slots in the band now receive the clip. Consequently grooves18 can be formed as a single groove encircling the refractory, or if theband is sufficiently thick, grooves 18 can be eliminated altogether, andthe clip received solely in slots in the band. Orientation of the tubeof course is immaterial if the outlet is in the bottom of the tube.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a modified construction of pouring tube illustratedas having an open lower end 24. The lower edge of the band 19a is bentto form a flange 25 which is received in a groove 21a in the outsideface of the refractory. The band is held in place by a tie 26 which maybe formed of steel strapping, wire, a metal clip or the like. The bandmay be formed in one piece with a single split, or in two or moresegments with a corresponding number of splits. Of course the form ofband shown in either embodiment may be used with tubes having eitherform of outlet.

From the foregoing description it is seen that my invention affordsa'simple means for strengthening a pouring tube in its weakened regionwhere it is attached to a holder with a clip. The band distributes theload around the circumference of the refractory. In actual usage, I haveobserved tubes which lack the band often breaking at the groove.Addition of the band has effectively prevented such breakage.

I claim:

I. In a combination which includes a holder, a pouring tube, and meansattaching said tube to said holder,

said holder Comprising a refractory block, a metal frame around at leasta portion of said block, and a skirt depending from said frame;

said tube being formed of refractory, the upper end portion of which isreceived in said skirt;

said attaching means comprising clip means extending through said skirtand engaging said tube;

the improvement comprising:

a metal band encircling the refractory of said tube and having opposedslots receiving said clip means; and

means fixing said band to said refractory.

2. An improvement as defined in claim 1 in which said refractory hascircumferential grooves under the slots in said band.

3. An improvement as defined in claim 1 in which said band is split andwelded at the split, and said refractory has a circumferential grooveand said band is crimped to engage said groove 4. An improvement asdefined in claim 1 in which said band is split and held in a tie, andsaid refractory has a circumferential groove, and said band is flangedat its lower edge to engage said groove.

5. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which said clip means is aU-shaped clip.

'States Steel Corporation v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OFCORRECTION P t t N 3a a November 5, 1974 'James T. Shapland Inventor(s)It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent andthat said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the cover sheet insert [73] Assignee: United Signed "and sealed this21st day of January 1975.

(SEAL) Attestz.

MCCOY M. GIBSON JR C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents FORM PC40 0 (10-69) I uscomm-oc 60376-P69 L us sovsmmzm mnmueOFFICE: 930

1. In a combination which includes a holder, a pouring tube, and meansattaching said tube to said holder, said holder comprising a refractoryblock, a metal frame around at least a portion of said block, and askirt depending from said frame; said tube being formed of refractory,the upper end portion of which is received in said skirt; said attachingmeans comprising clip means extending through said skirt and engagingsaid tube; the improvement comprising: a metal band encircling therefractory of said tube and having opposed slots receiving said clipmeans; and means fixing said band to said refractory.
 2. An improvementas defined in claim 1 in which said refractory has circumferentialgrooves under the slots in said band.
 3. An improvement as defined inclaim 1 in which said band is split and welded at the split, and saidrefractory has a circumferential groove and said band is crimped toengage said groove.
 4. An improvement as defined in claim 1 in whichsaid band is split and held in a tie, and said refractory has acircumferential groove, and said band is flanged at its lower edge toengage said groove.
 5. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which saidclip means is a U-shaped clip.